Analyse The Methods Charlotte Bronte Uses To Essay Example
Analyse The Methods Charlotte Bronte Uses To Essay Example

Analyse The Methods Charlotte Bronte Uses To Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (1054 words)
  • Published: October 11, 2017
  • Type: Analysis
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The first chapter of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte showcases techniques used to elicit reader empathy towards the protagonist. Additionally, the novel's depiction of Victorian beliefs will be discussed.

By using pathetic fallacy, Charlotte Bronte creates a literary context in this chapter that evokes empathy from the reader towards Jane. The bleak and solemn landscape as well as the weather emphasize the sorrowful and solitary life that Jane leads, constantly humbled by her physical limitations. The dark and gloomy clouds brought by the cold winter wind reflect the unloving and barren environment that surrounds her, while the leafless shrubbery represents the scarcity in her life.

During her time in the library, Jane reads Bewick's History of British Birds, a book filled with references to isolation and coldness, further highlighting the sense of loneliness that pervades h

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er existence. The book describes "those forlorn regions of dreary space- that reservoir of frost and snow," amplifying the reader's understanding of Jane's character and circumstances.

Once more, it appears that Jane's distressing circumstances are mirrored in her identification with the desolation depicted in the book, "of these death-white realms I formed an idea of my own." This denotes that Jane comprehends her life by means of the untamed vistas presented in this literary work. As she reads this book, she utilizes her imaginative faculties to elude the wretchedness that plagues her.

This passage highlights how reading brings joy to Jane, a rare occurrence in her life. She often fears being interrupted, but when she immerses herself in a book, she escapes to a world of her own. The author's masterful use of vocabulary paints a bleak picture of Jane's existence, as illustrated b

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the phrase "a heart saddened by the chidings of Bessie." This indicates how downtrodden Jane has become due to constant reprimands from Bessie. Utilizing the verbs "humbled" and the noun "inferiority" reinforces the somberness of her situation. Even servants like Bessie also treat Jane as inferior because she relies on Mrs. Reed's support and has no financial independence.

Due to the difference in social class, Jane is not given the same level of respect as Mrs. Reed's children. It is evident that even the servants are hesitant to take her side against their master. Furthermore, John, who is the eldest son of Mrs. Reed, treats Jane like a servant girl by giving her orders.

In his treatment of Jane, John exemplifies Victorian ideology. Despite their four-year age difference, he insists on being addressed as "Master Reed" while referring to her with animalistic terms like "bad animal." John even hits Jane, claiming it's because of a look she gave him earlier. These actions demonstrate how he considers her to be of lower social standing than himself.

The Victorian era was characterized by the dominance of men over women in the household. This is exemplified in John's irate reaction upon discovering that Jane had taken a book to read which he angrily declared, "they are mine; all the house belongs to me or will do in a few years". As the head of the household due to his lack of a father, John's control over his mother and Jane is evident in his mother's defense of him when Jane is wrongly accused of attacking him.

According to the text, Mrs. Reed orders for Jane to be taken to the red-room and

locked up based on assumptions of her guilt without accepting any wrongdoing from her son. Jane describes John as having unhealthy habits and characteristics, including overeating and flabby cheeks, contradicting Mrs. Reed's claims of his delicate health. Despite being bullied and punished by John, Jane reports that Mrs. Reed treats him indulgently, even allowing him to miss school for extended periods.

Reed's disabilities on the matter are evidence of Mrs. Reed's unwillingness to hear any negative comments about her unpleasant son. Reed suggests that the young woman should not reside with "gentleman's children like us" and should "beg" instead, highlighting the values of Victorian society. Middle-class women were expected to marry well and take care of the household, as they were not allowed to pursue careers, making it challenging for them to survive without a source of income.

In Victorian society, Jane's lack of family and money leaves her in a challenging situation where she is undervalued. Despite her intelligence and avid reading habits, the Reeds do not place any significance on these qualities. In contrast, John is deemed important due to his social status as the master of the house, even though he is violent and uninterested in books unless they belong to him. The fact that John lacks affection for his mother and sisters does not diminish his status in society.

Society highly regards John despite his unkind and brutal treatment towards Jane. This illustrates the dominance of wealthy middle class men in their own homes, as evidenced by the obliviousness of his mother and sisters to his behavior towards Jane. Although a lucky family would have a benevolent household leader, Jane's situation exemplifies how life

can become unbearably oppressive with someone like John in charge. It is ironic that despite her intelligence, society views women as inherently emotional rather than rational which contributed to their disenfranchisement from voting rights.

Men in the Victorian era typically identified with a political party based on their principles, whereas women were often branded as hysterical. Jane Eyre exemplifies this theme as Jane exhibits hysteria when she screams at Mr. Rochester, likening him to a murderer, slave-driver, and Roman emperor. Nonetheless, it can be contended that John's abusive conduct towards her triggered Jane's emotional outburst. Additionally, the book Jane Eyre encompasses three centuries - the 17th, 18th, and 19th.

In the 17th century, novels centered on taboo love affairs. Jane's story stands out as she unintentionally falls for a married man and only weds him after his spouse passes away. In the 18th century, literature shifted towards virtuous protagonists who were aware of their surroundings and exhibited empathy. The 19th century saw a prevalence of authors using nature and scenery to convey emotions and encounters in their characters' lives. These metaphorical landscapes offer glimpses into both personal experiences and geographic locales.

Jane Eyre clearly exemplifies this phenomenon.

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